‘I’ve changed my mind’ – Keith Wyness drops verdict on Everton’s last-minute transfer plans
Everton could be set for a quiet end to the January transfer window amid their mid-table position in the Premier League.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who thinks the only new addition to David Moyes’ squad could be up-front.
Everton’s 1-1 draw with Leeds last time out means Moyes’s side are 10th in the Premier League table and 13 points above the relegation zone.
Beto could leave Everton before the window shuts, whilst Lazio had submitted a bid for midfielder Tim Iroegbunam.
Everton have ‘one area still up for grabs’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – thinks Moyes may now not sign a right-back due to Nathan Patterson’s return to form.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes Everton will wait until the summer to sign a new striker.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Well, you know, I’ve sort of been changing my thoughts on this as we go through, because Everton now are almost at relative safety.
“I think just another win would certainly put them, I think, safe enough from relegation. And a lot of the Everton fans that I know, at the end of last season we all just talked about saying, please give us a season with mid-table and we’ll be happy with that. No dramas about relegation.
“But of course, being football fans, everyone now wants to go for Europe and try and push on. But the reality is, I think that now getting the players back from AFCON, [Jarrad] Branthwaite back from injury as well, I think that we’re going to see maybe not too much activity.
“Also Nathan Patterson putting in some decent performances at right back has changed that position to a degree. So I think it actually could be a quiet market. The one area that I think could still be up for grabs is still in the striker position and some sort of backup there, but that’s really all there is. It’s not going to be as big, and I think they’re going to be waiting for the summer.”
Jack Grealish update emerges
The full extent of Jack Grealish’s injury at Everton has yet to be revealed, with early reports indicating the 30-year-old could be out for three months.
Grealish’s injury will not stop Everton pursuing a permanent deal for the midfielder in the summer when his loan spell from Man City expires.
Moyes wants to keep Grealish on Merseyside, and a deal could be struck between Everton and Man City at around £20million.